But still the Whistler blushed and shook his head till Shagarach perceived the boy's principle could not be shaken.
"You will give me your mother's address? Perhaps I may be able to get you work. Wouldn't you like to go to work?"
"Oh, yes, sir." The Whistler's face, which obstinate refusal, even for so honorable a scruple, had clouded with a trace of sullenness, brightened at once and his blue eyes smiled. Shagarach copied the address carefully and determined not to lose sight of the boy who knew how to say no so decidedly.
"And now——" he pushed the memorandum book aside. "I am defending Floyd. What did you wish to tell me?"
"We was the first at the fire," said Toot, eagerly.
"And we found the body of the servant," added Turkey.
But Shagarach's eyes never left the Whistler.
"Just when the fire broke out," said the Whistler, "we were coming through the alleyway side of the house."
"Yes."
"A big bloke—I mean a tall man—was running down the alleyway into Broad street. I noticed him, because the alley was narrow and he knocked me down."